The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory language and conduct
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to reveal racism in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
